In his first season in English football Laudrup has guided Swansea to a League Cup triumph and a top-10 place in the Premier League.

Nearly half the 20 Premier League managers named Laudrup as the most impressive performer, while 47% picked out Swansea City striker Michu as the season’s best signing ahead of Manchester United’s Robin van Persie (35%).

The survey, conducted for Barclays by the League Managers Association, puts Laudrup in a strong position to claim the prestigious LMA Manager of the Year award at the end of the season.

Gerard Houllier, the former Liverpool and Aston Villa manager, said: “At the beginning of the season many wondered whether Swansea would be able to maintain their impressive start to Premier League life.

“But Michael has managed to sustain their Premier League progress and recently won the League Cup. He has probably made the shrewdest signing of the season in Michu and deserves the praise from his peers.

“The survey highlights that promoted clubs can establish themselves, gain the respect of the established managers, play quality football and excite fans.”

Swansea’s style of play under Laudrup is also seen as a positive with a third of top-flight managers surveyed believing the attacking style of recently promoted sides has been the biggest tactical impact on the league in the past five years.

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